It's the opposite in democratic countries such as France: while every other person or entity is free to do everything except what's explicitly regulated, the go

It's the opposite in democratic countries such as France: while every other person or entity is free to do everything except what's explicitly regulated, the government only has those powers that are explicitly granted to them by laws and regulations. The comment you replied to was referring to the EU regulating major tech powers through e.g. GDPR and DSA.